10 Miles of New Carpool Lanes,Direct Access Ramp to Open on Interstate 805

SAN DIEGO – Caltrans, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and other local and federal officials gathered today to celebrate the completion of two major transportation improvements along Interstate 805 (I-805). The two projects will provide the region with a combined 10 miles of new carpool lanes in addition to a Direct Access Ramp (DAR).

“Caltrans and our transportation partners here in San Diego are working on many improvements along I-805 that will provide more transportation choices, reduce carbon emissions by offering motorists more carpool lanes, and improve the quality of life for those who live, work, and travel in San Diego,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty.

In north San Diego, the I-805 Carpool Lane/Carroll Canyon Road Extension Project in San Diego’s Golden Triangle area will open within the next two weeks. The project adds two miles of new carpool lanes, creating a continuous 10-mile carpool lane in each direction from Mira Mesa Boulevard in Sorrento Valley to Manchester Avenue on Interstate 5 in Encinitas. A new DAR will also open. For the first time, commuters on Carroll Canyon Road can now directly access the carpool lanes on I-805 at its merge with I-5.

The $94.8 million project was developed through a partnership between Caltrans, the Federal Highway Administration, and the city of San Diego. It was funded by $51.8 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $32.4 million from the regional TransNet half-cent sales tax administered by SANDAG and $10.6 million from the city of San Diego (which includes $2.7 million from Qualcomm).

Eight miles of new carpool lanes will open within the next two weeks between East Naples Street in Chula Vista and State Route 94 in San Diego as part of the first phase of the I-805 South Express Lanes Project

Additional improvements still under construction include a transit station, park and ride lot at East Palomar Street, sound walls to reduce freeway noise and a DAR. When the DAR is completed, carpoolers will be able to enter the I-805 carpool lanes without driving on the freeway’s general purpose lanes. The new DAR, transit station and park and ride lot will also provide commuters access to the future South Bay Bus Transit system.

The estimated cost of phase one is $155 million, including $56 million f om Proposition 1B, a 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. To date, more than $17 billion in Proposition 1B funds have been put to work statewide for transportation purposes.

“These projects are critical components of a broader planned region-wide effort to create new choices for travelers. Our plans include not only highways, but rail, Rapid bus, and bicycle improvements,” said SANDAG Board Chair and Santee Council member Jack Dale. “We are going to transform the I-805 into a multi-modal corridor, making it more efficient, by adding Direct Access Ramps, carpool and Express Lanes, and a Rapid bus network to provide faster, more frequent, and more convenient transit service.”